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< Back Bill Berry Bill Berry Apache Tribe of Oklahoma Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Bill Berry was named the 1980 Oklahoma High School Coaches Association American Legion Baseball Coach of the Year and 2003 Assistant All-State Baseball Coach, 2000 Oklahoma High School Softball Coaches Association All-State Fast Pitch Coach and 2012 All-State Slow Pitch Coach, 2014 Arizona Diamondbacks National Native American Softball Coach of the Year, and 2017 and 2018 Oklahoma Native American All-State Fast Pitch Coach. Berry was an assistant coach with the ASA 18U Gold Tulsa Eagles reaching the National Tournament five times placing ninth in 2003. He coached 23 All-State players and assisted in sending 27 players to NCAA Division I and 67 to various colleges on softball scholarships. He was inducted into the Oklahoma High School Softball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in 2016 and selected as a 2017 Oklahoma AARP Indian Elder Honoree. Berry was the winning coach of the 2001 All-Indian Women’s National Softball Tournament in Oklahoma City, OK, 2013 Jim Thorpe Native American Games 18U Softball Championship in Oklahoma City, OK, and the 2016 Native American Basketball Tournament (NABI) 18U Softball National Tournament Championship in Phoenix, AZ. In 2020, he was named head softball coach of an 18U All-USA girls’ fast pitch team that was to play in Spain but cancelled due to COVID-19. He played 28 years of professional men’s fast pitch and was named the 1978 National Indian Athletic Association National Tournament MVP in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, 1979 in Albuquerque, NM, 1980 in Norman, OK, 1979 and 1983 ASA National Tournament MVP in Oklahoma City, OK, and Sioux City, IA, and played in the International Softball Congress (ISC) 1994 World Tournament at Prince Edward Island, Canada. He was a member of the 1991, 1992, and 1993 All-Indian Fast Pitch National Champions (North Americans) in Oklahoma City, OK. Berry was a three-time All-Conference pitcher at Cameron University and made the Oklahoma All-State baseball team and winning the Oklahoma American Legion State Baseball Championship in 1971. He served as assistant softball coach at Oklahoma Panhandle State University and head softball coach at Bacone College and was an invited clinician for the University of Oklahoma, Baylor, and Louisiana Monroe softball camps. <Back

< Back Ron Powless Ron Powless Oneida Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Ron Powless was born on March 17, 1931, in Milwaukee Wisconsin and passed away September 9, 2011, in Marietta, GA while enroute to his winter home in Ft. Myers, FL. His father was Merville Powless from the Oneida Nation of Wisconsin. His mother, Jesse Snow Powless, was from the Red Lake Chippewa Nation. Ron, the oldest of three brothers, was highly motivated and an athletically talented youth. He played high school football at Morgan Park, Chicago, IL and Washington High School, Milwaukee, WI. His success as a receiver and punter led to his recruitment and scholarship offers. Ron attended Indiana University on an athletic scholarship playing football for the Hoosiers in the Big Ten. Following his time at Indiana, Ron served in the military stationed in Tokyo, Japan, where he was selected to the U.S. Army All-Star football team and played in the first American football game in Tokyo Stadium against the Marine All-Star’s. After his time in the military and playing for the U.S. Army All-Star football team, he continued his education in Mexico City at Mexico City College and later graduated from Indiana University with a degree in Marketing and Economics. Ron’s competitive nature led to successful careers with companies like Xerox and Itek before founding his own corporation, International Data Systems. His success allowed him to contribute to American Indian causes and enjoy homes in Wisconsin and Florida. Ron’s legacy lives on as he had a son and daughter both of whom followed him with successful careers and healthy families. <Back

Saturday, May 30th 2026 Oneida Hotel and Conference Center; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA The North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame will recognize the 2026 inductee class as well as other annual inductees in an exclusive ceremony and lunch on Saturday, May 30, 2026. By honoring and celebrating the empowered journey of these individuals and teams, the hope is their stories may inspire future generations to follow their dreams in athletics. Individual banquet tickets cost $50.00 USD each. Children ages 8 and above costs $30.00 USD each. Payment may be made via the postal service with a check/money order payable to: Empowered Youth Initiative Directives, Dan Ninham, PO Box 652, Red Lake, MN, 56671, USA or PayPal to code: coach.danninham@midco.net and make sure the full payment is USD. The deadline to purchase banquet tickets is Noon, Central Time (CT) on May 15, 2026 Austin Straubel International Airport: The Austin Straubel International Airport in Green Bay, WI is across the road from the host Oneida Casino Hotel and Conference Center: https://www.flygrb.com/ Host Hotel Information: Oneida Hotel and Conference Center, https://www.oneidahotel.com/ Reservations for the Event will be made by individual attendees directly with Hotel’s reservation department. (Call 800-238-4263 or the hotel direct at 920-494-7300). In order to receive the group rate, your attendees must ask for a room in the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame 2026 room block. Additional Hotel Information: If and when the second hotel block gets booked, contact Dr. Dan Ninham for hotel considerations. There may be another hotel block offered but there may be good deals in the area. This is the NAIAHF website: https://www.naiahf.org/ Dr. Dan and Susan Ninham, Directors, NAIAHF, PO Box 652, Red Lake, MN, USA, 56671, cell: 218.368.6430 coach.danninham@gmail.com 2026 NAIAHF Banquet Weekend Schedule Saturday 5/30/2026 8:00am Morning Smudge Ceremony Dr. Artley Skenandore Oneida Hotel and Conference Center; Green Bay, WI Saturday 5/30/2026 9:00am Doors Open to 2026 NAIAHF Banquet Three Clans Complex, Oneida Casino Hotel Saturday 5/30/2026 9:30-11:30am Welcome: Susan Ninham Flag Song: Buffalo Creek Drum Memorial Recognition and Moment of Silence: Ernie Stevens Jr. Family Memorial Honor Song: Chief Philip Whiteman Jr. Blessing for the Food: Susan Ninham Banquet Buffet Breakfast Music Performance: Keith Secola, Anishinaabe, Singer/Songwriter, https://secola.com/ Meet and Greet Inductees Reception Saturday 5/30/2026 11:30 Awards Ceremony: Sponsor Acknowledgment and Speaker Introductions: Dr. Dan Ninham Individual and Team Inductee Recognition: Susan and Dr. Dan Ninham Oneida Smoke Dancers Inductee Group Photo Drawing Prizes During the Banquet Traveling Song: Buffalo Creek Drum Inductee Banners Distribution

< Back Dr. Chuck Foster Dr. Chuck Foster Navajo Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2023 Dr. Chuck Foster was born and raised on the Navajo Reservation in Fort Defiance, Arizona to the late Harold Y. Foster, who was a Navajo Code Talker and Margaret Foster. He comes from the Kinyaa’aanii (Towering House Clan) born for Dzil’ta’ahnii (Mountain Cove Clan) and his grandfather, Ta’baabi’ (Edge Water Clan) and grandmother, Hona’gha’ahii (One Who Walks Around Clan). Marie Foster, his wife of 46 years have four adult children and four grandchildren. He was a distinguished student/athlete from Window Rock High School in Fort Defiance, Arizona. He received his AA Degree from Central Arizona College, his BS Degree from the University of Arizona and his MEd and Doctorate Degrees from Brigham Young University. His experience in teaching at the high school and being a school administrator was met with outstanding achievement awards. He was a three sport all state and state champion athlete in high school and competed at the highest level in Arizona’s most prestigious track & field and cross country meets to win his gold medals. At the collegiate level, he was a four-time Collegiate First Team All-American in both track & field and cross country and was a former NJCAA National three-mile record holder. He was also a four-time Arizona Community College Athletic Conference Champion in track & field and cross country, where he held records both in the mile (4:06) and three-mile (13:56) events. At the D1 level his mile (4:04) and 5,000 meters (13:56) was commendable for a personal and collegiate record. He was coached by George Young, a four-time Olympian. He also competed with the Southern Arizona Track Club to continue his athletic journey before becoming a high school teacher and coach. Because of his accomplishments he has received many prestigious awards as a former athlete, teacher, coach, and school administrator. He was also a recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King Humanitarian Award in Utah, and was inducted into the National American Indian Athletic Hall of Fame and Central Arizona Athletic Hall Fame, and has been honored by the Utah State Board of Education for his employment. He also sits on several state education committees and is an advocate for the American Indian populations in Utah. <Back

Michael Daney <Back Choctaw Induction Category: Year Inducted Coach/Athlete 2024 Michael Daney is a member of the Oklahoma Choctaw Tribal Nation. He was a track and cross country athlete at Haskell Indian Junior College, Oklahoma Baptist University and Northeastern Oklahoma State University, and a coach at Haskell Indian Junior College and Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute where he is currently a health and physical education instructor. Daney serves as a coach, mentor, and facilitator of the Sport Warriors Track Club, a program that is designed to encourage and assist Native American post-collegiate runners to continue to compete on a national level in USATF national competitions. Daney mentored and coached three runners that qualified for the U.S. Olympic Trials. As an athlete at Haskell Indian Junior College, he was a two-time NJCAA national cross country qualifier and was named the cross country team MVP while earning letters in cross country, basketball, and track. While being an athlete at Oklahoma Baptist University, Daney was a member of the NAIA Cross Country All Conference Team, NAIA District 9 Cross Country Champion, and NAIA National Cross Country Qualifier. He was All Conference in the Three Mile Run and Steeplechase and was also named to the NAIA All Region Team Steeplechase. Daney also attended Northeastern Oklahoma State University, and he was the winner of the NIAA Native American Cross Country Championship, Conference Track Champion and school record holder in the one and two mile Daney began his college coaching at Haskell Indian Junior College and was a part of the four-peat Haskell’s Men’s Marathon National Championships that is still an NJCAA record. His men and women’s teams qualified for seven NJCAA National X-Country Championships and were all top 10 finishes. Daney coached 18 male and female All-Americans including one national champion and he was a two-time NJCAA Region X-Country Coach of the Year. Daney also coached 10 NJCAA National Championship at Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute. He coached 23 All-Americans and seven individual national champions. He was named NJCAA Regional Coach of the Year five times and National Coach of the Year 10 times. Daney currently lives in Albuquerque, NM, with his wife, children and grandchildren.

Coaches Craig Berube Cree Dano Thorne ’kwaliquinum’ Coast Salish Cowichan and Nez Perce Jason Peters Mi’kmaw Kelvin Sampson Lumbee Mark Burnam Mohawk Mohawk

< Back Connor Church Connor Church Métis Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2025 Connor Church is a distinguished Métis athlete who proudly represents the Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF). Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Connor moved to Montreal, Quebec at 18 years old to pursue his dream of representing Canada at the Olympics. Wrestling in the 79kg weight class, Connor has achieved remarkable success, becoming a four-time national champion, with two titles in the U20 division and two in the senior division. Church has competed in three World Championships and two Pan American Championships, where he earned a silver and bronze medal. In 2022, he represented Team Quebec at the Canada Games, emerging victorious in the 76kg weight class. Inspired by his father, who introduced him to the UFC, Connor became a huge fan of Georges St-Pierre. Watching a fellow Canadian dominate the world of MMA with his perfectly timed takedowns ignited the passion for wrestling. As a two-time Tom Longboat Award winner, Connor has been celebrated for his athletic accomplishments and dedication to his Indigenous heritage and community. His journey to success was highlighted by becoming a U Sports National Champion as a standout member of the Concordia wrestling team. Looking ahead, Connor is focused on his goal of representing Team Canada at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, driven by his love for the sport and desire to inspire fellow indigenous athletes. He is determined to leave a lasting legacy in wrestling and within his community. <Back

Kayla Gardner Category Athlete Tribe Eagle Lake First Nation Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 11/16/1994 Kayla Gardner was a two-time girls’ hockey state champion with the Warroad Warriors, earning back to back titles in 2010 and 2011. Gardner was a contributing member of five section 8A championships. Off the ice, Gardner was a member of the National Honor Society. After graduating from Warroad High School, Gardner attended the University of North Dakota from 2013-2017, where she received a full hockey scholarship. During her time at UND, Gardner was a three-time WCHA Scholar Athlete. After earning her Bachelors of Science degree in Criminal Justice in 2017, Gardner went on to play professional hockey with the Calgary Inferno of the CWHL. After a successful year with the Calgary Inferno, Gardner continued her professional hockey career in Sweden, playing with the Brynäs IF in the SDHL. Home 2026 Banquet Film Screenings 2026 2026 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

< Back Daniel Polk Daniel Polk Apache/Kwatsan/Diné Induction Category: Year Inducted Athlete 2024 Daniel Polk was born in Ft. Defiance, AZ but grew up in Pinon, AZ and Winterhaven, CA. He is from San Carlos Apache, Kwatsan (Quechan), and Diné nations. His Lakota name is Screaming Eagle and Diné name is Man Comes Home. His parents are Damon Polk and Helena Bekay Polk. He has two sisters and two brothers. Polk now lives in Shakopee, MN with his wife Dyani White Hawk Polk and their daughters Nina and Tusweca Polk. Polk’s first love was basketball. He played four years of varsity basketball at San Pasqual Valley High School. Daniel would walk onto Arizona Western College team to play one year, then transfer to Haskell Indian Nations University to finish out his basketball career. While at Haskell, he would receive his Associates of Arts and Bachelors of Science Degree in Elementary Education. Polk now has a new love and passion for disc golf. His friend Henry Pohocsucut would teach him the sport of disc golf in 2005. When he first saw Henry throw a disc, it flew an entire football field length and Polk has been hooked ever since. He wanted to learn everything about disc golf. The techniques, different styles of throw, forms of competition and rules and regulations. A lifelong athlete, disc golf was now everything to Polk. He would play every chance he got towards the goal to someday become a competitive professional disc golfer. His very first tournament, The Centennial Open, he won the Intermediate division (MA2). This motivated him to keep learning and working on his skills. In 2006, he became an Advance player (MA1), in 2007 he became a Men’s Professional Open player (MPO), and in 2019 he became a Men’s Master Pro 40+ player (MP40). Polk has played in over 300 tournaments and has over 75 wins. He is sponsored by Prodigy Disc, Airborn Disc Golf, and Team Blue Ribbon Pines. Polk is seen as a great and respectful competitor and role model. He works hard to earn everything he has achieved and hopes to continue to be a strong competitor positively representing his sponsors and family. <Back

Ernie Stevens Jr. Category Athlete Tribe Oneida Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 7/5/1959 Ernie Stevens, Jr. is Chairman of the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) out of Washington, DC. Serving in his 11th consecutive two-year terms. Stevens serves as Chairman and National spokesman for the Indian Gaming industry working with Tribal Leadership in shaping policy initiatives that have the potential to impact the industry. Stevens served as elected Councilman for the Oneida Nation from 1993 to 1996. His career in Washington, DC began in 1995 as the First Vice-President of the National Congress of American Indians. He serves as a board member of the National Center for American Indian Enterprise Development, Nike N7 Foundation, Center for American Indian Youth, and Native American Graduate Center. In 2008, Stevens was inducted into the National Indian Athletic Association Hall of Fame. In 2012, he was inducted into the Boys & Girls Club Alumni Hall of Fame. In 2013, he was inducted as Lifetime Member of the American Indian Higher Education Consortium’s Alumni Association. In 2015, Stevens was inducted into the American Gaming Association Gaming Hall of Fame, and has received several national accolades. Ernie’s boxing career started in his teens. At 16, along with boxing icon Louie Askinette, he co-founded the Soaring Eagle Boxing Club in Oneida in 1975. His accolades include 4-time State Heavyweight Champion in 1976, 1977, 1978 & 1979. He is also a two-time National Indian Heavyweight Champion out of Carson City, NV in 1977 & 1978. In 1977, he was 17 years old fighting seasoned men to win the Championship. Stevens received an Associate Degree from Haskell Indian Junior College, 1983, a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Mount Senario College,1996 and a Masters in Management from the University of Phoenix, 2021. Stevens is married to his wife and best friend of 43 years, Cheryl. Together they have 5 kids and 17 grandchildren. Home 2026 Banquet Film Screenings 2026 2026 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More

IIJL WORLD U16 LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP (WU16LC) Team 2026 Induction Category: Year Inducted <Back 2022 Gold Medal: Haudenosaunee Kaidyn (Honrahdagwaisro's) Lickers-Henry , Kariwanoro Squire, Katinóntie Bear Martin, Moagi Buffalo, Parker Booth, Parker Thompson, Ryker Powless, Stone Mcgregor, Tehohonwáthe Bomberry, Thunder Hallett, Trelin Warrior, Tristan Garlow, Warren Cook President: Gewas Schindler General Manager: Sakoneseriiosta Maracle Assistant Manager: Cam Hill Head Coach: Rich Kilgour Assistant Coach: Ron Cogan Assistant Coach: Al Jones

Oren Lyons Category Athlete Tribe Onondaga Nation Year Inducted 2022 D.O.B. 3/5/1930 Oren Lyons, Faithkeeper of the Turtle Clan, Onondaga Nation. He serves on the Grand Council of Chiefs of the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy –Haudenosaunee. Oren holds the title of Professor Emeritus at SUNY Buffalo, has a Doctor of Laws Degree from his Alma Mater, Syracuse University and Lyons Hall at SU is named in his honor. Chief Lyons is an All-American Lacrosse Hall of Famer, and Honorary Chairman of the Iroquois Nationals Lacrosse Team. He is an accomplished artist, environmentalist, author, and global presenter and holds the title of Wisdom Keeper. He is a leading voice at the UN Permanent Forum on Human Rights for Indigenous Peoples, serves on the Executive Committee of Spiritual and Parliamentary Leaders for Human Survival, acts as Chairman of the Board for both the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic Development and Seventh Generation Fund. Recipient of several prestigious awards including Green Cross International Environmental Icon Award, founded by Mikhail Gorbachev. The United Nations NGO World Peace Prize, the Ellis Island Congressional Medal of Honor, The Rosa Parks and George Arents Award for Environmental and social activism and receiving Sweden’s prestigious Friends of the Children Award with his colleague the late Nelson Mandela, also included in his list of acknowledgments are the UN World Peace Prize, Ellis Island Congressional Medal of Honor, Native American Hall of Fame Chief Lyons is a constantly sought-after speaker, a subject of several documentaries, films and a tireless advocate for American Indian causes and Indigenous rights. Oren is a founding member of One Bowl Productions and serves as a constant reminder of humanity’s responsibilities to the earth and our future generations. Home 2026 Banquet Film Screenings 2026 2026 Banquet Sponsorship About Inductee Search Provincial Nominees Contact More